Personal Independence Payment Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

Michael Fabricant Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd January 2018

(6 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Esther McVey Portrait Ms McVey
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I said that the Minister for Disabled People holds meetings for MPs, but she does the same for caseworkers, so MPs’ staff can attend those sessions, meet the Minister and ask relevant questions.

Michael Fabricant Portrait Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)
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The shadow Secretary of State said that she was gobsmacked by my right hon. Friend’s response. I am gobsmacked by the vilification of my right hon. Friend on social media and by the threats from Opposition Members to string her up, which are more unacceptable. Just for clarification, will she let the House know precisely by how much disability payments have risen since this Government came to power?

Esther McVey Portrait Ms McVey
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I am glad that “gobsmacked” has become part of the language of the House. My hon. Friend is gobsmacked, but I was obviously greatly dismayed by the comments from the Opposition and by the personal attacks that I have suffered. However, I know that people make personal attacks only when they do not have workable policies to put forward, so that shows that the Opposition have no workable policies. We do not need to link politics with violence.

In answer to my hon. Friend’s question, the increase has been £4.2 billion.